Dismissal ruled unjust

A former kitchen manager at TGI Friday's has been awarded Lm3,600 compensation for unfair dismissal.

Industrial tribunal chairman Maurice Petrococchino however ruled that the quantum of compensation had been reduced to reflect the fact that Omar Granata had reduced the possibility of being re-employed by not registering with the Employment and Training Corporation.

Granata filed a case against Sliema Fort Company and TGI Friday's claiming he was sacked unfairly after he was promoted to kitchen manager from assistant kitchen manager, and given a rise.

The company claimed he did not give positive results and went on leave twice for a relatively long period because of stress. It also claimed he was implicated in drug abuse after employees claimed they used drugs in his presence and this was the last straw.

But the tribunal discarded the claims of involvement in drug abuse on the grounds that the company had failed to produce evidence to support its claim.

The tribunal ruled it had always insisted that termination of employment was the last step after warnings were given in writing and, despite Granata's serious shortcomings, the abrupt dismissal was not just.